The 5 Foods That DO NOT Belong in the Fridge

1. Nutella

This nutty goodness should be kept in the pantry away from heat and light. Heat will cause the oils in Nutella to separate and leave you with a disgusting layer of goop and render it inedible. However just because it should be kept away from heat doesn’t mean it should be refrigerated as it would make it hard and unusable. So if you love your Nutella, follow its labelling of “no need for refrigeration” and keep it fresh for longer by storing it in a cool dry place.

2. Coffee Beans - always up for debate!

According to Five Senses Coffee, it is not a good idea to store coffee beans in the fridge as the humidity and temperature changes can cause a change in the cell structure of the beans. Basically, the beans would be losing its oils and would result in the reduction of the coffee beans’ beautiful flavours and aromas. The right way to store beans would be in an airtight container away from light. Whole beans also remain fresher for longer than ground coffee beans so for fantastic home brewed coffee, it would be a good time to invest in a grinder for access to freshly ground beans every time. And remember, no refrigeration!

3. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter should be stored in the pantry as it usually keeps well for about 3 months when stored in a dark place at room temperature. The low amount of water in peanut butter means refrigeration is not necessary and keeping it at room temperature allows it to be spread more easily.

4. Honey

Honey is one of the few foods that do not have an expiry date. With proper storage (in an airtight container and away from moisture) – honey will last indefinitely. If you store honey in the fridge, the cold accelerates the honey’s crystalisation process making it (as the process suggests) hard. However, crsytalisation is normal for honey and doesn’t indicate spoilage. To dissolve the crystals, simple immerse the jar of honey in hot water and stir the honey till the crystals dissolves – do not use the microwave as it would affect the natural healing properties of the honey.

5. Vegemite

This is an age-old argument between many Aussies. We love our Vegemite but we can’t seem to agree on how it should be stored. Like peanut butter, it contains a very small amount of water so it is unlikely that bacteria can grow. And according to their website (www.vegemite.com.au), Vegemite is a shelf stable product that can be stored in the cupboard or pantry after opening right up until the best before date. So keep it away from the fridge and rest easy that your Vegemite is safe in the pantry!